The day was bright, if cold as Ria arrived at the embassy. The slick cobbled lane coated with a sheen of frost as the brisk winter wind whips through the trees. Shivering, Ria moves to the door and knocks. As the door opens she gives her most winning smile, Greetings, I am Crown Ambassador of England Lady Friria Charbonneau de Razieau Carlyon, Baroness of Deeside. Here are my credentials."

Handing over the thick official papers, Ria hopes that will be sufficient.

[rp]

By the writing of this letter, I, Lord Richard Dorchester, Chancellor of the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of England, do hereby appoint Her Excellency, Lady Friria Charbonneau de Razieau Carlyon, Baroness of Deeside, as Crown Ambassador to the Grand Duché de Bretagne. This appointment gives her the authority to communicate and work with the leadership and diplomatic representatives of Bretagne.

This letter also grants Ambassador Friria with the full authority to exchange information of a public nature, to represent the Kingdom of England in routine communications between our lands, and to build and maintain a friendly and prosperous relationship between England and Bretagne.

Anne was filing some documents, when Gawain came running into her office. He stopped at the door and in a halting voice told her the Royal Ambassador had come from England. The poor man had run from the front gate to Anne's office and was quite out of breath. The old Captain handed her the Ambassador's credentials and Anne thought, Lady Friria, at last! She thanked Gawain warmly, then jumped from her chair, went out of her office and hurried to the reception room. A few minutes later, she entered the room and went up to Lady Friria

Welcome, Lady Friria, I am Anne-Solenn Wolback, Countess of Pleheneg, the Chambellan of Brittany. I'm very happy a new Ambassador to Brittany has been appointed by the English Crown. Will you follow me, please? The Royal English Embassy is in the other wing of the castle, I hope you're not too tired, it's rather far from the front gate.

It was said with a slight smile, the long corridors of the castle were famous and Anne often thought that she'd like to add wheels to her shoes, she'd be less tired at the end of the day. But well, that was impossible... just a thought, really.